Holy Mackerel Special Golden Ale

Company founder Robert Gordash was the 1996 winner of the Samuel Adams World Homebrew Contest for his special English bitter. He formed his brewing company this year.

ABV: 8.5ABW: 6.8Color: 6.3Bitterness: 24Original Gravity: 1077

I’m not sure what the promised “Florida twist” to this beer is, but there’s plenty to like about it even without visions of the Sunshine State dancing in my head. Deep gold in color with a ton of fruit in the nose—like fresh peach, apricot, yellow plum, mango—it has a sweet body that starts a bit sugary but develops more hops and alcohol balance in the middle. Along the way, there is light spice and lots of fruitiness, along with what seems to be a vanilla note or two, before a mildly alcoholic finish. Save this one for Aunt Mabel’s peach cobbler.- Stephen Beaumont